EXPLAINER
What Is a Decibel? Understanding Sound Levels
“60 decibels” means nothing to most people. But once you understand the decibel scale, a whole world of sound — and hearing safety — clicks into place.
The Key Idea: Decibels Are Logarithmic
A decibel (dB) measures sound pressure level on a logarithmic scale. That's not a technical footnote — it's the whole point. Because your ears perceive loudness logarithmically, every +10 dB sounds roughly twice as loud. So 70 dB isn't “a little louder” than 60 dB — it's about twice as loud. And 90 dB is about four times louder than 70 dB.
This is why hearing damage sneaks up on people: a “small” jump on the dial is a big jump in actual sound energy.
Everyday Sound Level References
| dB | Example |
|---|---|
| 20–30 | Whisper, very quiet room |
| 40–60 | Normal conversation |
| 60–80 | Busy street, vacuum cleaner |
| 80–100 | Loud music, power tools |
| 100+ | Rock concert, jet engine |
Measure the noise around you right now with our free decibel meter — just note that phone and laptop mics are uncalibrated, so treat readings as approximate.
When Does Loud Become Dangerous?
The widely accepted threshold is 85 dB over a typical workday. Above that, risk rises steeply — and the relationship isn't linear. At 100 dB, damage can occur in minutes, not hours.
A practical rule of thumb: if you have to raise your voice to be heard an arm's length away, the environment is loud enough to be harmful over time. Wear hearing protection at concerts and around power tools, and keep headphone volume moderate. Your future self will thank you.